Lee Daniels is probably most famous for being the director of the award-winning film Precious, but unfortunately, it's not enough to help him get a family member out of prison!

The director was reportedly ready to shell out $1 million to bail his brother-in-law, Henry Black, from prison - for shipping kilos of cocaine across the country - but Judge John Gleeson ruled that the charges were too severe to let him off the hook!

Defense lawyer Jason Russo attempted to use Daniels' noteriety in his clients favor by proclaiming in court:

"His income is approximately, I'm probably understating it, $1 million a year. I don't know if the court is aware of who Mr. Daniels is. He was the producer and director of the movie 'Precious' that won some awards over the last couple of years."

To which Gleeson replied curtly:

"Oh, okay. No, I wasn't. Now I am."

Ouch!

Sorry, guys! The law is the law!

And it sounds like Black is in some SERIOUS trouble, regardless of whom his relatives may be!